Mobile communications terminal and method

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a graphical user interface of a computer terminal running multiple asynchronous simultaneous tasks. The progress of the tasks is shown in a list in an information window. The content and visibility of the list determines the type of user interaction defined by the terminal when one of the tasks reaches a predetermined stage of completion.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/912,968, filed Aug. 6, 2004, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods for operating a user interfaceof a computer terminal running multiple simultaneous tasks. Theinvention relates further to methods for operating a graphical userinterface of a computer terminal, in particular a mobile communicationterminal, capable of running multiple simultaneous downloads, uploads orprint jobs, as well as methods for handling downloads from one or moreservers onto a computer terminal capable of running multiplesimultaneous downloads.

BACKGROUND ART

Mobile communication terminals, e.g. mobile phones, personal digitalassistants (PDA) or the like have developed into computer terminals thatoffer almost the same functionality as a computer workstation or IJC.These mobile terminals include office applications, internet browsersand game platforms, etc.

Many of the presently most advanced mobile communication terminals areoperated with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that resembles the GUIsused in workstations and PCs. However, mobile communication terminalsgenerally lack a pointer device such as a mouse and have a significantlysmaller available display area than computer workstations and PCs.

Proper navigation between active windows is sometimes very difficult toprovide in usable way without a pointing device.

In a situation where an application on a mobile communication terminalhas multiple active windows for asynchronous, simultaneously run tasks,but which terminal does not have enough screen area to adequately showmultiple windows at the same time, or even no area to show these windowsas buttons. Under these circumstances users sometimes miss the overviewof the tasks running on their mobile communication terminal, possiblyresulting in a feeling of lack of control.

On advanced mobile terminals devices where data transfer rates are high(3G, EDGE, WLAN) relative to the available memory space a user couldeasily initiate the simultaneous download of a number of relativelylarge files, e.g. music files containing all the songs of an album. Thetotal space required for these files may not be available on theterminal and the user may end up having paid for the to be downloadedfiles and for the data transfer costs in vane.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides method for operating a user interface ofa computer terminal running multiple simultaneous tasks that each can gothrough one or more given changes in status, comprising the steps of:monitoring the status of the tasks, presenting information regarding thestatus of the tasks via the user interface, determining if theinformation regarding the status of the task concerned is perceptible bya user when any of the tasks changes status, and presenting a separateconfirmation indicating that the task concerned has changed status ifthe information regarding the status of the task concerned is notperceptible by the user when the task concerned changes status.

The present invention provides further a method for operating agraphical user interface of a computer terminal running multipleasynchronous simultaneous tasks that each can go through one or moregiven changes in status, comprising the steps of: monitoring the statuschanges of the tasks, determining if a window with information regardingthe status of the task concerned is visible on the graphical userinterface when any of the tasks changes status, and displaying aconfirmation dialog indicating that the task concerned has changedstatus if no window with information regarding the progress of the taskconcerned is being displayed on the graphical user interface when thetask concerned has changed status.

The present invention provides further a method for operating agraphical user interface of a computer terminal capable of runningmultiple asynchronous simultaneous downloads, comprising the step ofdisplaying an information window including a list of the downloads inprogress.

The present invention provides further a method for handling downloadsfrom one or more servers onto a computer terminal capable of runningmultiple asynchronous simultaneous downloads, comprising the steps of:checking the available memory space in the computer terminal beforeinitiating a download, deducting the space required for previouslystarted downloads from said available memory space to obtain theeffectively available memory space, obtaining or estimating the size ofthe to be downloaded file, and canceling the download if the effectivelyavailable memory space is smaller than the size of the to be downloadedfile.

The present invention also provides a method for operating a graphicaluser interface of a computer terminal running multiple asynchronoussimultaneous tasks that each can go through one or more given changes instatus, comprising the steps of: monitoring the status of said tasks,displaying a window with a list with information regarding the status ofthe tasks, and displaying a confirmation dialog indicating that the taskconcerned has changed status if the list contains information regardingmore than one task or if the list has not been visible throughout theprogress of the task concerned, when the task concerned changes status.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present description, theinvention will be explained in more detail with reference to theexemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the architecture of a wireless cellular communicationnetwork for use with the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrates a perspective front and rear view of apreferred embodiment of a mobile terminal according to the invention;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating the general architecture of amobile phone in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the software architecture of themobile phone shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the architecture of a micro browserapplication;

FIGS. 3D to 3F are screenshots of webpages shown by the micro browser;

FIG. 4A is a flow chart illustrating the start and progress of downloadprocedures;

FIG. 4B is a screenshot of a step of the flowchart of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of the flowchart shownin FIG. 4A;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure upon completion of oneof the downloads according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure upon completion of oneof the downloads according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is screenshot of another preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is screenshot of yet another preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a network architecture, for a telecommunicationsystem for use with the present invention. As shown, thetelecommunication system includes a wireless cellular network and a datanetwork connected to a public switched network. The wireless cellularnetwork can be implemented in a conventional wireless cellular telephonenetwork that has been enhanced to carry data. A wireless network capableof carrying circuit-switched data can be used for this purpose. Morepreferably, however, the wireless cellular network provides apacket-switched data service. An example of a wireless infrastructureincludes UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System), a 3^(rd) Generationwireless system based on GSM (Global System for Mobile communications).GSM adds a packet network overlay known as GRPS (GSM Packet RadioService) to a wireless circuit voice network.

The data network of FIG. 1 can be implemented using a conventionalpacket data network based on the IP (Internet Protocol) and/or ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) protocols, and also has wireless networkaccess capability.

A number of servers A,B,C,D,E providing HTML, XHTML, WML or WAP pagesare connected to the data network. These servers may, further to contentthat can be displayed on a page, provide other downloadable items, suchas images, sound files, applications etc.

A mobile communication terminal according to the invention in the formof, a hand portable phone, preferably a cellular/mobile phone, will bedescribed by the preferred embodiments. The invention can however, alsobe carried out with any other computer terminal such as a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA).

FIGS. 2A and 2B shows a mobile phone according to the invention. Themobile phone 1 comprises a user interface having a housing 2, a display3, an on/off button 4, a speaker 5 (only the openings are shown), and amicrophone 6 (only the opening is shown). The phone 1 according to thepreferred embodiment is adapted for communication via a cellularnetwork, such as the GSM 900/1800 MHz network, but could just as well beadapted for use with a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a3G network, or a TCP/IP-based network to cover a possible VoIP-network(e.g. via WLAN, WIMAX or similar).

The keypad has a first group 7 of keys 8 as alphanumeric keys, by meansof which the user can enter a telephone number, write a text message(SMS), write a name (associated with the phone number), etc. Each of thetwelve alphanumeric keys 8 is provided with a figure “0-9” or a sign “#”or “*”, respectively. In alpha mode each key is associated with a numberof letters and special signs used in the text editing.

The keypad 2 has additionally a second group of keys comprising twosoft-keys 9, two call handling keys 12, and a 5-way navigation key 10(up, down, left right and center: select/activate). The function of thesoft-keys depends on the state of the phone and navigation in the menuis performed by using the navigation-key. The present function of thesoftkeys 9 is shown in separate fields (soft labels) in the display 3,just above keys 9. The two call handling keys 12 are used forestablishing a call or a conference call, terminating a call orrejecting an incoming call. This key layout is characteristic for e.g.the Nokia 6610™ phone.

The arrow key 10 is a five-way key which can be used for cursormovement, scrolling and selecting and is placed centrally on the frontsurface of the phone between the display 3 and the group of alphanumerickeys 7. A releasable rear cover 14 gives access to the battery pack thatin the back of the phone supplies electrical power for the electroniccomponents of the mobile phone.

The mobile phone has a flat display 3 that is typically made of an LCDwith optional back lighting, such as a TFT matrix capable of displayingcolor-images.

FIG. 3a illustrates in block diagram form the, general architecture of amobile phone 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Aprocessor 18 controls the communication with the cellular network viathe transmitter/receiver circuit 19 and an internal antenna 20. Amicrophone 6 transforms the user's speech into analogue signals, theanalogue signals formed thereby are A/D converted in an A/D converter(not shown) before the speech is encoded in a digital signal processingunit 14 (DSP). The encoded speech signal is transferred to the processor18, which e.g. supports the GSM terminal software. The processor 18 alsoforms the interface to the peripheral units of the apparatus, includinga RAM memory 17 a and a Flash ROM memory 17 b, a SIM card 16, thedisplay 3, the IrDA controller 35, the Bluetooth controller 25, theserial port 36,61 and the keypad controller 29, external RAM 27 andkeypad 2 (as well as data, power supply, etc.). The digitalsignal-processing unit 14 speech-decodes the signal, which istransferred from the processor 18 to the speaker 5 via a D/A converter(not shown).

FIG. 3b illustrates the software architecture of the mobile phone 1. Thesoftware architecture comprises an operating system, in a preferredembodiment the Symbian™ 7.0 OS that provides the platform for the nativesoftware. The native software comprises a number of native applicationsof which a few can be mentioned: User interface, KVM support, callhandling, phone book, message handling and a MIDlet database. The listednative applications are, however merely exemplary, there could be moreas well as fewer native applications.

A Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) provides the runtimeenvironment for Java™ applications. CLDC is one of the most appropriateconfigurations for mobile phones available for Java™, since it istailored for devices with 160-512 KB memory battery powered, slow,possibly intermittent, connection.

The CLDC comprises a K Java™ Virtual Machine (KVM) and a set oflibraries and Application Program Interfaces (APIs). The libraries andAPIs are specified in the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP)sitting on top of the CLDC. The MIDP is a vertical extension of CLDC.Together they provide a run-time environment for Java™ Applets andMlDlets (MIDlet: an application written for the Mobile InformationDevice profile MIDP)) on the mobile phone concerned.

In the present embodiment a Java™ XHTML micro browser applet has beeninstalled by the OEM. The micro browser supports the XML and HTML XHTMLspecification as well as the WAP and WML documents. The browser candownload and show webpages in the above mentioned formats.

According to another preferred embodiment the browser is a Series 60application implemented for the Symbian OS.

Referring now to FIG. 3C the architecture of the Series 60 micro browseris illustrated. The architecture of the Java browser is substantiallyidentical with that of the Series 60 browser. The browser UI takes careof all the user interface aspects except rendering of a document, e.g.options menu functions are provided by this layer. The browser engineAPI interfaces between browser UI and lower level implementation. Thesystem library adaptation handles communication between operating systemand browser. The Parser reads (X)HTML markup, and processes, it into theformat that the browser internally uses. The Rendering Engine draws(renders) pages on the screen. The plug-in API provides interfacebetween the browser and plug-in objects (e.g. Macromedia Flash® contenton the page) embedded into a page. Scripting handles ECMA/JavaScript onpage and the loader together with the HTTP framework and HTTP filterstake care of downloading of a page. The download handler, together withthe loader, HTTP framework and HTTP filters, takes care of downloadingof files that cannot be displayed on a page. The download handlerapplication can be called by other applications installed on the mobilephone.

FIG. 3D shows a screenshot of a webpage rendered on the display 3 by themicro browser. The upper bar 51 shows the logo 52 for the GPRSconnection and the URL 53 of the webpage. A rotating globe 54 is shownin the upper bar 51 when a webpage is being downloaded. In the main area55, text, graphics and hyperlinks 56 are displayed (only hyperlinks areshown in FIG. 3D). One of the hyperlinks 56 is highlighted (the firstlink on the page is highlighted per default).

The web pages displayed in the browser contain hyperlinks 56. The usercan jump from hyperlink to hyperlink by pressing the navigation pad 10which will thus become highlighted. The highlighted hyperlink 56 can beactivated by pressing centrally on the navigation pad 10 or, (as shownin FIG. 3E) by pressing the left softkey “options”, which results in alist 61 of selectable items including the item “Open”). The highlightedhyperlink is activated and the corresponding webpage downloaded. FIG. 3Fis a screenshot of a webpage including a link 56 to a file to bedownloaded, i.e. a file of a type that cannot be presented on a page inthe browser.

With reference to FIG. 4A the download procedure of files that cannot bepresented on a page is illustrated. While being connected to a remoteserver via the browser the user can initiate (step 4.1) a download byactivating a hyperlink that activates a download. The micro browserresponds (step 4.2) with a confirmation query 29 “Download?” followed bythe file details/name. If the user confirms the query 29 by pressing theleft softkey “Yes” a subroutine for checking that there is sufficient isstarted. The subroutine is described in detail below with reference toFIG. 5. When the subroutine confirms that there is sufficient memoryspace available for the download, the download starts and an informationwindow 30 pops up (step 4.3).

The information window 30 shows a list with all downloads currently inprogress (in the browser or in some other application using the downloadhandler), paused or completed in the current browser instance. The listincludes three columns and shows (as far is the information isavailable) for each download listed:

-   -   the application shell icon 31, shown in the first column;    -   the name of the file 32 being downloaded, shown in the central        column;    -   the download progress 33 in percentage, shown in parenthesis in        the central column below the name of the file;    -   the amount of downloaded data 34, shown in the central columns        below the name of the file 32;    -   an external memory icon 35, shown in the last column.

The name of the file in download is taken from descriptor of thedownloaded file or from the document from which the file download wasinitiated.

One of the “downloads in the list (default is the first listed download)is highlighted. By pressing the “Up” and “Down” navigation key 10 theuser can change the download that is highlighted. When the informationwindow is the topmost window, the function of the softkeys 9 is“Options” and “Hide”. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the information window30 covers a major part of the display 3. Pressing the right softkey“Hide” sends the information window 30 to the background and allows theuser to see and use other applications, i.e. the viewer of an imagedownloaded earlier.

Pressing the left softkey “Options” (step 4.4) calls a pop-up window(step 4.5) with a list of selectable items that includes the items“Pause/Resume” and “Cancel download”. The function of the softkeys 9 haschanged to “OK” and “Cancel”. Selecting “Pause/Resume” with thenavigation key 10 and pressing the left softkey 9 “OK” pauses thehighlighted download when it was not already paused, and resumes thehighlighted download when it was already paused. Pressing “Cancel”closes the pop-up window.

The user can recall the information window 30 when it is in thebackground. To do so, the user presses the left softkey 9 “Options”,resulting in a list of selectable items being shown including “Tools”.Selecting “Tools” and pressing the left softkey 9 “Select” results inanother list with selectable menu items including the item “Downloads”.Selecting “Downloads” calls the information window 30 back to the front(step 4.5).

Referring now to FIG. 5 the subroutine for checking the available memoryspace is described. In step 5.1 it is checked if the file that the userrequests to download is not already on the list of downloads. If thefile is already on the list an error message is shown (step 5.2) “Filealready in download, new download attempt cancelled”.

If the file is not already on the list, the space required forpreviously started download is calculated (step 5.3).

The space required for each previously started download is calculated onthe basis of the size of the part of the download concerned that has notyet been downloaded. In step 5.4 the available memory space isdetermined, first the internal RAM 17 a and next the external RAM 27.

In step 5.5 the total space required for previously stated downloads issubtracted from memory space available at the moment, to obtain theeffectively available memory space.

In step 5.6 the size of the file to be downloaded is queried from theserver. If the server does not provide the information the file size isestimated, e.g. by using some default value, like 100 kB or 10% ofavailable memory.

In step 5.7 it is calculated whether or not the effectively availablememory space is smaller than the size of the file to be downloaded. Ifthe effectively available memory space is not smaller than the size ofthe file to be downloaded the subroutine returns at B to the flowchartof FIG. 4A. If the effectively available memory space is smaller thanthe size of the file to be downloaded an error note (step 5.8) isdisplayed: “Not enough memory space, available, download, attemptcancelled”.

With reference to FIG. 6 a first embodiment of the procedure uponcompletion of a download is illustrated. In step 6.1 one of thedownloads finishes. In step 6.2 it is determined if the list ofdownloads in the information window 30 is presently visible. Thevisibility is considered to be positive if the information window 30 isthe topmost window. If list is visible indeed, the downloaded file ispassed to the document handler for viewing (step 6.3).

If the list is not visible, a confirmation query 48 ““Filename”downloaded” is shown (step 6.4). Simultaneously the function of thesoftkeys 9 changes to “Open” and “Save”. Pressing of the left softkey 9“Open” causes the file to be passed to the document handler for-viewing(step 6.3). Pressing the right softkey 9 “Save” causes the file to bepassed to the document handler for saving (step 6.5).

The procedure above ensures simple and easy user interaction in caseswhere the user just downloads one item at the time and waits until thewhole download has been completed. Because the list of downloads isvisible, it is safe to assume that the user understands that thedownload completed.

If the list of downloads is not visible when download completes (thelist might be in the background in the browser, or the user might beusing some other application like viewer for the previous download),then the user is provided with confirmation dialog about completeddownload. This ensures that the user understands that the downloadingcompleted, so (s)he is not taken to viewer application withoutexplanation of the reason for that.

With reference to FIG. 7 a second embodiment of the procedure uponcompletion of a download is illustrated. In step 7.1 one of thedownloads finishes. In step 7.2 it is determined if the list ofdownloads in the information window 30 was visible throughout thedownload. The visibility is considered to be positive if the informationwindow 30 was the topmost window during the complete download. If thelist was visible all the time indeed, it is determined in step 7.3 ifthe finished download was the only item on the list of downloads ininformation window 30. If so, the downloaded file is passed to thedocument handler for viewing (step 7.4).

If the list was not visible all the time, or if there was more than oneitem on the list, a confirmation query 48 ““Filename” downloaded” isshown (step 7.5). Simultaneously, the function of the softkeys 9 changesto “Open” and “Save”. Pressing the left softkey 9 “Open” causes the fileto be passed to the document handler for viewing. Pressing the rightsoftkey 9 “Save” causes the file to be passed to the document handlerfor saving.

Alternatively, a criterion for deciding not to show the confirmationquery 48 could be the fact that the download that finished is the firstdownload on the list. Another criterion for deciding to present aconfirmation query, or any other type of confirmation message such as atone, could be the light conditions around the display. A light sensor(not shown) in the mobile phone 1 could e.g. detect that direct sunlightis falling onto the screen and cause the presentation of a tone or voicemessage to inform the user that a task has changed status. If theinitial status information concerning the status of the tasks ispresented in audible form, a separate confirmation regarding a statuschange is presented in non-audible form when the noise level around themobile phone detected by the microphone 6 is above a given threshold orif a setting in the mobile phone 1 has disabled all audiblenotifications.

FIG. 8 illustrates a screenshot of another preferred embodiment of theinvention. In this embodiment the simultaneous tasks are print jobs.Upon each new print job an information window 70 is displayed. Theinformation window 70 includes a title bar 76, and a list with all printjobs currently in progress, paused or completed. The list includes adocument name column 71, a status column 72; a pages column 73, and afile size column 74.

One of the print jobs in the list (default is the first listed printjob) is highlighted. By pressing the “Up” and “Down” navigation key 10the user can change the print job that is highlighted. When theinformation window 70 is the topmost window, the function of thesoftkeys 9 is “Options” and “Hide”. The information window 70 covers amajor part of the display 3. Pressing the right softkey 9 “Hide” sendsthe information window 70 to the background and allows the user to seeand use other applications, i.e. the text editor of a document createdearlier.

Pressing the left softkey “Options” calls a pop-up window (not shown)with a list of selectable items that includes the items “Pause/Resume”and “Cancel print”. The function of the softkeys 9 has changed to “OK”and “Cancel”. Selecting “Pause/Resume” with the navigation key 10 andpressing the left softkey 9 “OK” pauses the highlighted print job whenit was not already paused and resumes the highlighted print job when itwas already paused. Pressing “Cancel” closes the pop-up window.

The user can recall the information window 70 when it is in thebackground. To do so, the user presses the left softkey 9 “Options”,resulting in a list of selectable items being shown including “Tools”.Selecting “Tools” and pressing the left softkey 9 “Select” results inanother list with selectable menu items including the item “Print jobs”.Selecting “Print jobs” calls the information window 70 back to thefront.

When the status of a print job changes, e.g. a print job finishes or anerror occurs, such as the printer being out of paper, a check is made ifthe information 70 window is visible, i.e. presently the topmost window.

If information window 70 is visible indeed, no further action is taken.

If the information window 70 is not visible (i.e. is not the topmostwindow), a confirmation query “Filename: print finished” or “Filename:error, out of paper” is shown. Simultaneously the function of the leftsoftkey 9 changes to “Hide”. The right softkey has no function in thissituation. Pressing of the left softkey 9 “Hide” closes the confirmationquery.

FIG. 9 illustrates a screenshot of yet another preferred embodiment ofthe invention, display 3. In this embodiment the simultaneous tasks areuploads. Upon initiation of each new upload an information window 80 isdisplayed. The information window 80 includes a title bar 81, and a listwith all uploads currently in progress, paused or completed. The listincludes two columns and shows (as far as the information is available)for each upload listed:

-   -   the application shell icon 82, shown in the first column;    -   the name of the file 83 being uploaded, shown in the right        column;    -   the upload progress 84 in percentage, shown in parenthesis below        the name of the file; and    -   the amount of uploaded data 85, below the name of the file 83.

One of the uploads in the list (default is the first listed upload) ishighlighted. By pressing the “Up” and “Down” navigation key 10 the usercan change the upload that is highlighted. When the information window80 is the topmost window, the function of the softkeys 9 is “Options”and “Hide”. The information window 80 covers a major part of the display3. Pressing the right softkey 9 “Hide” sends the information window 80to the background and allows the user to see and use other applications,i.e. the text editor of a document created earlier.

Pressing the left softkey “Options” calls a pop-up window (not shown)with a list of selectable items that includes the items “Pause/Resume”and “Cancel upload”. The function of the softkeys 9 has changed to “OK”and “Cancel”. Selecting “Pause/Resume” with the navigation key 10 andpressing the left softkey 9 “OK” pauses the highlighted upload when itwas not already paused and resumes the highlighted upload when it wasalready paused. Pressing “Cancel” closes the pop-up window.

The user can recall the information window 80 when it is in thebackground. To do so, the user presses the left softkey 9 “Options”,resulting in a list of selectable items being shown including “Tools”.Selecting “Tools” and pressing the left softkey 9 “Select” results inanother list with selectable menu items including the item “Uploads”.Selecting “Uploads” calls the information window 80 back to the front.

When the status of a an upload changes, e.g. an upload finishes or anerror occurs, a check is made if the information 80 window is presentlythe topmost window.

If information window 80 is visible indeed, no further action is taken.

If the information window 80 is not visible (i.e. is not the topmostwindow), a confirmation query “Filename: upload completed” or “Filename:error, upload cancelled” is shown. Simultaneously the function of theleft softkey 9 changes to “Hide”. The right softkey has no function inthis situation. Pressing of the left softkey 9 “Hide” closes theconfirmation query.

In one aspect the disclosed embodiments include a computer programproduct. The computer program product can include a computer useablemedium. The computer useable medium can be configured to operate a userinterface of a computer terminal running multiple simultaneous tasksthat each go through one or more changes in status. In one embodiment,the computer readable medium can be configured to monitor the status ofthe tasks, present information regarding the status of the tasks via theuser interface, determine if the information regarding the status of thetask concerned is perceptible by a user when any of the tasks changesstatus, and present a separate confirmation indicating that the taskconcerned has changed status if the information regarding the status ofthe task concerned is not perceptible by the user when the taskconcerned changed status.

In one embodiment, the computer program product comprises means forcontrolling execution of a plurality of simultaneous applications thateach can go through one or more changes in status, means for monitoringthe status of said tasks, means for presenting information regarding thestatus of said tasks via the user interface, means for determining ifsaid information regarding the status of the task concerned isperceptible by a user when any of the tasks changes status, and meansfor presenting a separate confirmation indicating that the taskconcerned has changed status if said information regarding the status ofthe task concerned is not perceptible by the user when the taskconcerned changes status.

The present invention is not limited to particular types of tasks.Further to the mentioned tasks other simultaneous tasks such as sendingor receiving messages or tasks that run simultaneously on a computerterminal can be handled as described above.

Although the present invention has been described in detail for purposeof illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for thatpurpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

That which is claimed:
 1. A method comprising: monitoring with aprocessor, statuses of multiple file downloads; causing display of therespective statuses for each of the multiple file downloads; causingdisplay of at least one option for each of the multiple file downloads,each option enabling user control of the downloading of the associatedfile, wherein the at least one option comprises at least pausing,canceling, or resuming of the downloading of the associated file; in aninstance the displayed respective statuses are perceivable by a user anda particular file download is completed, causing the particular file tobe opened in response to completion of the download; and in an instancethe displayed respective statuses are not perceivable by the user,causing the particular file to be opened only in response to a userindication.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of twoof the multiple file downloads occur simultaneously.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one option comprises at least one ofpausing or resuming downloading of the file.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining an amount available memory to which thefiles will be downloaded; estimating a size of at least one of thefiles; and in an instance the amount of available memory is notsufficient for completing any of the downloads, providing an indicationthat the amount of available memory is not sufficient.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the memory to which the files will be downloaded isexternal to a device displaying the respective status for each of themultiple file downloads.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein determiningthe amount of available memory comprises: estimating file sizes ofpreviously initiated file downloads in progress; and calculating aneffectively available memory by adjusting the determined amount ofavailable memory based on estimated sizes of previously initiated filedownloads.
 7. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and atleast one memory including computer program code, the at least onememory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to at least: monitor statuses of multiple filesbeing downloaded; cause display of the respective statuses for each ofthe multiple file downloads; cause display of at least one option foreach of the multiple file downloads, each option enabling user controlof the downloading of the associated file, wherein the at least oneoption comprises at least pausing, canceling, or resuming of thedownloading of the associated file; in an instance the displayedrespective statuses are perceivable by a user and a particular filedownload is completed, causing the particular file to be opened inresponse to completion of the download; and in an instance the displayedrespective statuses are not perceivable by the user, causing theparticular file to be opened only in response to a user indication. 8.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of two of themultiple file downloads occur simultaneously.
 9. The apparatus of claim7, wherein the at least one option comprises at least one of pausing orresuming downloading of the file.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, whereinthe at least one memory and the computer program code are furtherconfigured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:determine an amount of available memory to which the files will bedownloaded; estimate a size of at least one of the files; and in aninstance the amount of available memory is not sufficient for completingany of the downloads, provide an indication that the amount of availablememory is not sufficient.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein theamount of available memory to which the files will be downloaded is anexternal memory to the apparatus.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, whereindetermining the amount of available memory comprises: estimating filesizes of previously initiated file downloads in progress; andcalculating an effectively available memory by adjusting the determinedamount of available memory based on estimated sizes of previouslyinitiated file downloads.
 13. A computer program product comprising atleast one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable program code instructions stored therein, thecomputer-executable program code instructions comprising program codeinstructions to: monitor statuses of multiple files being downloaded;cause display of the respective statuses for each of the multiple filedownloads; cause display of at least one option for each of the multiplefile downloads, each option enabling user control of the downloading ofthe associated file, wherein the at least one option comprises at leastpausing, canceling, or resuming of the downloading of the associatedfile; in an instance the displayed respective statuses are perceivableby a user and a particular file download is completed, cause theparticular file to be opened in response to completion of the download;and in an instance the displayed respective statuses are not perceivableby the user, cause the particular file to be opened only in response toa user indication.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13, whereinat least a portion of two of the multiple file downloads occursimultaneously.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13, whereinthe at least one option comprises at least one of pausing or resumingdownloading of the file.
 16. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the computer-executable program code instructions compriseprogram code instructions to: determine an amount of available memory towhich the files will be downloaded; estimate a size of at least one ofthe files; and in an instance the amount of available memory is notsufficient for completing any of the downloads, provide an indicationthat the amount of available memory is not sufficient.
 17. The computerprogram product of claim 13, wherein the memory to which the files willbe downloaded is external to a device displaying the respective statusfor each of the multiple file downloads.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 13, wherein determining the amount of available memorycomprises: estimating file sizes of previously initiated file downloadsin progress; and calculating an effectively available memory byadjusting the determined amount of available memory based on estimatedsizes of previously initiated file downloads.